Craniofacial reconstruction surgery involves a surgical approach to the craniofacial region to repair cranial vault and facial deformities. The surgery is extensive, often requiring wide scalp dissections and multiple osteotomies and has been associated with significant morbidity. Some of the most severe and commonly seen problems are associated with the rate and extent of blood loss.

Efforts to minimize surgical bleeding may translate to reduced transfusion requirements and a lessening of associated risks Epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), an inhibitor of fibrinolysis, reduces transfusion requirements in children undergoing procedures on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), as well as in older children undergoing spinal surgery for scoliosis (1-6).

Before controlled studies to assess efficacy of EACA in a craniofacial surgical population can be done, appropriate pharmacokinetic (PK) data are needed to determine the optimal dosing strategy. PK data exist for EACA in children undergoing operations on CPB and hypothermia.

The aim of this study is to determine the pharmacokinetics of EACA in infants and children undergoing craniofacial reconstruction procedures.

Group A (low dose) will receive a loading dose of EACA of 25 mg/kg over ten minutes followed by a continuous EACA infusion at 10 mg/kg/hr, which will be continued until the end of surgery

Other Names:

Amicar

6-aminohexanoic acid

Experimental: Group B

Group B - Intermediate Dose

Drug: Epsilon-Aminocaproic Acid

Group B (intermediate dose) will receive a loading dose of EACA of 50 mg/kg over ten minutes followed by a continuous EACA infusion at 20 mg/kg/hr, which will be continued until the end of surgery

Other Names:

Amicar

6-aminohexanoic acid

Experimental: Group C

Group C - High Dose

Drug: Epsilon-Aminocaproic Acid

Group C (high dose) will receive a loading dose of EACA of 100 mg/kg over ten minutes followed by a continuous EACA infusion at 40 mg/kg/hr, which will be continued until the end of surgery.

Other Names:

Amicar

6-aminohexanoic acid

Experimental: Group D

Group D - Extra Low

Drug: Epsilon-Aminocaproic Acid

Group D (extra low dose) will receive a loading dose of EACA of 12.5 mg/kg over ten minutes followed by a continuous EACA infusion at 5 mg/kg/hr, which will be continued until the end of surgery

Other Names:

Amicar

6-aminohexanoic acid

Detailed Description:

Craniosynostosis is the condition in which there is premature fusion of one or more of these sutures between the bones of the skull. Craniosynostosis limits the ability of the cranial vault to expand to accommodate the rapidly growing brain in infancy and early childhood. Deformation of skull shape results as cranial vault expansion occurs in areas of the skull that have not abnormally fused. Left uncorrected, craniosynostosis may adversely impact neurologic and psychosocial development. In some cases, increased intracranial pressure may also result.

Craniofacial (CF) reconstruction procedures to treat craniosynostosis are undertaken in young children to improve appearance, prevent functional disturbances, and enhance psychosocial development. Optimal surgical results are achieved when these procedures are performed in infancy. These procedures are extensive, often requiring wide scalp dissections and multiple osteotomies and have been associated with significant morbidity. Reported complications include massive blood loss, intraoperative cardiac arrest, transfusion reactions, venous air embolism, hypotension, coagulopathy, bradycardia, postoperative seizures, surgical site infections, facial swelling, and unplanned postoperative mechanical ventilation (7-13). Many of the most severe and commonly seen problems are associated with the rate and extent of blood loss.

Intraoperatively, the presence of hyperfibrinolysis has been demonstrated in children undergoing CF reconstruction procedures (8,14), although the extent of its contribution to bleeding is unclear.

Epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), another inhibitor of fibrinolysis, is an attractive alternative. EACA is a synthetic lysine analog that blocks the lysine binding sites on plasminogen, resulting in antifibrinolytic activity through inhibition of plasmin formation.

Any investigational drug use within 30 days prior to proposed EACA administration.

Wards are not eligible for study

Children who have been previously enrolled in this study may not be enrolled again.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00912119

Locations

United States, Pennsylvania

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Sponsors and Collaborators

Paul Stricker

Children's Anesthesiology Associates, Ltd.

Thomas B. and Jeannette E. Laws McCabe Fund Pilot Award

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Paul Stricker, MD

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

More Information

Responsible Party:

Paul Stricker, Assistant Professor for the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia